Man accused of drunk driving tells police his dog was driving

Reliford Cooper III, 26, blamed the pooch after his car had crashed into a ditch

(PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)

A man accused of drunk-driving after leading police on a high-speed chase explained to an officer that it was his dog, and not him, who had been driving the vehicle.

Reliford Cooper III, 26, blamed the pooch after his car had crashed into a ditch following the chase in Palmetto, Florida – allegedly telling an officer: “My dog was driving that car, I ran cause I wanted to. You ain’t gonna find no drugs or guns on me.”

A police report filed by the arresting officer told how after Cooper’s car crashed he escaped on foot before eventually being traced by sniffer dogs to a church.

It transpired that Cooper had been hiding in the church toilet – and was “forced out” by churchgoers into the arms of waiting officers, the report adds.

Cooper is said to have smelt of alcohol and marijuana, and told police: "I wasn't driving that car." He asked, "Who was chasing me? You're slow as ****!"

After throwing up, Cooper, who has previous convictions for armed robbery and burglary, was taken to hospital for a check-up before being charged with drunk driving, aggravated fleeing and leaving the scene of an accident.